Zuocheng Zhang

Zuocheng Zhang is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of New England (UNE), Australia, where he is part of the English, Literacies and Language Education team. He previously held the position of full professor in applied linguistics at the University of International Business and Economics in China and played a pivotal role in establishing the nationally accredited Business English Major in China. At UNE, he leads the Interculturality and Education Strategic Research Group and teaches in TESOL, disciplinary literacies, and cultural diversity education.

His educational background includes a BA from Xi'an International Studies University (XISU), an MA from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), and a PhD from the University of Sydney.

Zuocheng Zhang's research centers on disciplinary literacies, ESP teacher development, multimodal discourse analysis, interculturality in education, and the experiences of international students. He investigates how professional identities are constructed in educational and workplace contexts, particularly in Business English and international education settings. His work often employs critical discourse and multimodal analysis to examine university communications, curriculum design, and student transitions.

His recent publications (2019–2025) reveal a consistent focus on international student education, TESOL pedagogy, and professional identity formation. He frequently publishes in journals such as English for Specific Purposes, Discourse & Communication, and Ibérica, and with publishers like Routledge and Springer. His research often involves comparative and multimodal methods, particularly in analyzing university websites and digital media.

He has received research funding from both Chinese national agencies and internal UNE sources, supporting projects on international student transitions, multimodal inclusivity, and digital pedagogy. Notable grants include a National Office of Philosophy and Social Sciences grant in China and multiple UNE internal funding awards.

Zuocheng Zhang has supervised numerous higher degree research students to completion, including PhD and EdD candidates, with topics ranging from ESL classroom anxiety to rhetorical agency in political texts. His current HDR student is Jennifer Kompara, researching subject literacy in legal studies.

He is actively involved in research teams, including projects on international graduates’ transition to regional workplaces and multimodal construction of diversity. He is a member of professional associations such as the Asia-Pacific Rim LSP and Professional Communication Association, Australian Council of TESOL Associations, and the International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning.